Is Africa finally getting the message?

Each year the Group of Eight (G8) holds its annual summit at a different location. This year's event took place in the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, from 6 to 8 June. Topics discussed at the summit relate to events of global economic importance, and incl

The G8 member countries include Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia. The European Commission is also represented at all G8 meetings.

It is common knowledge that Africa has long been exploited by Western powers, and it is with this in mind that G8 members frequently invite African representatives to attend the summit. Each year, the G8 countries promise financial aid to Africa in the form of debt relief, humanitarian aid and healthcare funding.

Plenty of promises remain unfulfilled

We are not concerned with whether or not Western economies should commit funds to Africa. Rather, we are concerned that the promised funds are delivered and put to use to the benefit of the continent.

The truth is that Africa's plight is revisited at the G8 summit every year. Every year the wealthy member nations pledge billions of dollars in financial aid to Africa. And yet, these funds never arrive with the promised bang. Instead the trickle of aid does little to improve matters on the ground. Africa appears destined to return to the summit each year with an empty begging bowl raised for more assistance.

In a similar vein to past summits, the 2007 event garnered a commitment from G8 members to plough a total of USD 60 billion into combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis globally. These funds would be used to provide access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment and care. In addition, in the Final Declaration on Africa, G8 members reiterated their "strong interest in a stable, democratic and prosperous African continent."

Members resolved to honour existing commitments made at the 2005 G8 summit. They also claimed that debt relief was at an advanced stage and that development assistance for Africa would "be increased by USD 25 billion a year (when compared to 2004) by 2010."

Securing a better life for future generations

With the G8 nations slow to live up to their financial promises, we viewed recent announcements by South African president Thabo Mbeki in an extremely positive light. Mbeki addressed attendees at the opening session of the World Economic Forum on Africa, in Cape Town.

According to Mbeki, several African countries have reached agreement to establish a continental infrastructure fund. This fund would be financed, in part, from various state pension funds, and had already secured initial capital of USD 600 million. Details as to which counties would contribute to this fund are sketchy. However, considering South Africa's economic dominance on the continent we can be sure a large portion of the funds will come from the southern tip of Africa.

Mbeki noted that the 14 or 15 public pension funds in these African countries controlled assets in excess of USD 150 billion. These pension funds would partner with various financial institutions to establish an Africa infrastructure fund with 'all African money' as early as July 2007.

Message received the future is in African hands

While the Africa infrastructure fund is a noble concept, it will fall well short of the continents massive financial requirements. The World Bank's vice president for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, said that USD 20 billion a year would be required to underpin current growth levels, and even more would be needed to uplift the millions of Africans living below the poverty line.

Despite the new African mindset, Ezekwesili believed that since African governments had honoured their promises of cleaner governance it would be appropriate for the developed Western nations to honour their promises of aid funding. It was thus rewarding to note that German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, had this message for Africa after day three of the 2007 summit: "We are aware of our responsibility and we will honour our commitments." The G8 needs to "fulfil the promises we made," she added.

While we wait for the G8 to make good on their promises, the Africa infrastructure fund proves that Africa is realising it has a part to play in its own destiny. Africa cannot wait indefinitely for large Western governments to satisfy all its financial needs.

Editor's thoughts:
Western democracies spent decades plundering Africa's resources. This plunder has led to the common belief that the West owes Africa for its misdemeanours. This belief contributes to a continent wide failure for Africans to take responsibility for their own development. Who do you think should foot the bill for upgrading Africa's infrastructure? Send your suggestions to [email protected]